World's biggest fast-food chain seeks new ketchup for its famous french fries.

McDonald's Corp (MCD) on Friday said it plans to end its 40-year relationship with ketchup maker H.J. Heinz Co, since that company is now led by Bernardo Hees, the former chief executive of hamburger rival Burger King Worldwide Inc (BKW.N).

"As a result of recent management changes at Heinz, we have decided to transition our business to other suppliers over time," McDonald's said in a statement.

"We have spoken to Heinz and plan to work together to ensure a smooth and orderly transition," said McDonald's, which has more than 34,000 restaurants around the globe.

Heinz declined to comment. "As a matter of policy, Heinz does not comment on relationships with customers," company spokesman Michael Mullen said.

The switch will be more apparent overseas than in the United States, as McDonald's only serves Heinz ketchup in two domestic markets - Pittsburgh and Minneapolis, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported on Friday.

Indeed, ketchup packages handed out at McDonald's restaurants in the United States often say only "fancy ketchup." Most in-store ketchup dispensers are not branded.

Do you remember when their food used to taste good? I can't believe people still buy the garbage. It's more of a convenience thing now anyway. Too bad the young people will never know what fast food used to taste like in America. I remember the fall of most of it:

No more juicy burgers - Mid 90's, Jack in the box ecoli scare prompted almost all fast food places to overcook the beef and/or cook them early in the day, store them in a metal container with warmed water, then briefly place them on the grill before serving. I swear, I haven't had a "Five Guys" quality burger from a chain since 1998.

Fries into soggy cardboard - McDonalds fries were ruined in two ways:
1) Lawsuit from a vegetarian group in the early 00's prompted them to remove the beef bullion flavor from the fries.
2) New York law in the mid 00's prompted most fast food chains to no longer use hydrogenized vegetable oil because it' bad for us. Fries haven't been crispy since.

Taco Bell Scare - Ecoli outbreak in the late 00's forced Taco Bell the permanently remove green onion from all of their food.

Do you remember when their food used to taste good? I can't believe people still buy the garbage. It's more of a convenience thing now anyway. Too bad the young people will never know what fast food used to taste like in America. I remember the fall of most of it:

McDonald's Corp (MCD) on Friday said it plans to end its 40-year relationship with ketchup maker H.J. Heinz Co, since that company is now led by Bernardo Hees, the former chief executive of hamburger rival Burger King Worldwide Inc (BKW.N).

So some exec from their competitor leaves, becomes an exec at some ketchup place, breaking ties to his former place of employment and because of all this McD's refuses to use that brand of ketchup? That makes no sense.

What if he had left and became an exec at the Dept. of Treasury. Would McD's refuse U.S. Currency?

1st every time i go. it tastes great
2nd you think you can cook better?? yeah right
3rd stop complaining

1) You either don't live in the US or you have a really bad palette.
2) Yes, my burgers at home taste better because they don't sit in a vat of water all day.
3) It's easy; if you don't my complaint, don't read it. Just because you are an assistant manager (all three points of defense tells me that), doesn't mean your garbage tastes good.

Do you remember when their food used to taste good? I can't believe people still buy the garbage. It's more of a convenience thing now anyway. Too bad the young people will never know what fast food used to taste like in America. I remember the fall of most of it:

No more juicy burgers - Mid 90's, Jack in the box ecoli scare prompted almost all fast food places to overcook the beef and/or cook them early in the day, store them in a metal container with warmed water, then briefly place them on the grill before serving. I swear, I haven't had a "Five Guys" quality burger from a chain since 1998.

Fries into soggy cardboard - McDonalds fries were ruined in two ways:
1) Lawsuit from a vegetarian group in the early 00's prompted them to remove the beef bullion flavor from the fries.
2) New York law in the mid 00's prompted most fast food chains to no longer use hydrogenized vegetable oil because it' bad for us. Fries haven't been crispy since.

Taco Bell Scare - Ecoli outbreak in the late 00's forced Taco Bell the permanently remove green onion from all of their food.

I only eat at fast food restruarants when I have to.

1. Burgers aren't placed in warm water. When I worked at McDonalds back in the early 00's, the patties were in a box, in a freezer. You had to place them on the grill in an S shape, then sprinkle seasoning on in an S shape, then press close the grill and press a timer.

2. Even as a kid I remember soggy fries, still my favorite.

3. Can you even tell the difference from the small ingredients you listed that were removed?

I can't be the only one who hates it when people say "people eat that garbage?"..... heck I've been to some "fancy" restaurants that are well ranked... and thought their "high class" food tastes like trash... never got "high class" food myself, always thought overpriced for the portion size and always had presentation over actual quality and taste....